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In mild, increasing pain - need dentist. But there are no NHS dentists…

W348

Is this just a Wales problem? I am on ESA and PIP.

I believe I am still entitled to NHS dental treatment. The problem is that in Wales it is difficult to find an NHS dentist. The practice I was, still am with, they were seeing NHS patients. But now they’re not, they’re fully private.

My dentist went private over a year ago, I have had my name down with another local dentist for about a year now too. My mum went in there today to ask about the wait. But they just gave us leaflets to join them privately.

Is it no longer possible to get NHS treatment on ESA benefits? Or is it just a lottery to find an NHS dentist?

Last year I went to hospital about my teeth. I have social anxiety and don’t talk to people, and often have to write things down, notes to pass as I am uncomfortable with people looking at me. I muddle my words up when I speak with anxiety.

I have a wisdom tooth above my very back tooth. I mentioned this at hospital to Orthodontist specialist who was looking at my bite and referring me for jaw surgery. He said I need to go to my dentist and have an X-ray done. I tried to explain my dentist is now private. This was over a year ago. But recently now I am in pain and still not with an NHS dentist.

My mum phoned my dentist up and they want £70 just for a check up. The hospital also suggested xray too last year but at the dentist. I am worried this will be hundreds of pounds. And then what? I may need a wisdom extraction. Google says this is £650. As it is above my back tooth that will probably need to come out too. I don’t want to lose my teeth.

I don’t know how to get help.

I can sell my PlayStation to help pay for some, but I’m worried that after I pay for it all - I would be devastated to later find out if there was a way of getting this for free, and I just glossed over it, and was too late.

I do have some backpay for my recent PIP and SDP award but it would be devastating to have to blow what’s left on dental treatment that I am supposed to get included with my ESA benefit.

I’m just taking paracetamol and ibuprofen the last few days, but I can feel it is getting sharper pain each day.

I did stumble (Google) onto a NHS Low Income Scheme that I may be able to apply for. I am not sure if that is even helpful though as my problem is I can’t get myself under an NHS dentist, I don’t know where else to look.

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Comments

Amaya_Ringo

I have a similar issue with my dentist going private with no advance notice. I can still see her but it's so expensive. My inlay (done on the NHS) has come out four times in just over a year. The last visit I had my dentist put it back in for me for free as part of my appointment. But it came out again about six weeks later. My next appointment based on my payment schedule is January, so I am currently managing with one half tooth…because an emergency appointment is in the region of £80 and that's a lot of money. I have no idea what the solution will cost me, I suspect I won't be able to afford it though. I still have the inlay but it constantly coming out has caused me a lot of anxiety :/

I never shirked going to the dentist when I had NHS access, but now I have to delay. I am so sorry you are dealing with a situation like this :( Is there no emergency dentist in your area that you can try and make an appointment with on the NHS?

I am in England so no, it's not just a Wales problem.

W348

I’m not sure I am technically classed as an emergency tbh. I get pain, and it comes and goes, but it is new pain. And I am aware that my wisdom tooth is sitting directly above my back tooth, I can feel the bump above the back tooth in my gum/cheek bone area just below my eye.

I have my Orthodontist report copy where he gives recommendation for what he wants the dentist to do - including xray. The cost of this is a great concern, and I know when my dentist was NHS I used to get such X-rays and check-ups covered previously.

I’m managing the pain OK for now but I am obviously worried that if I am feeling pain then this will be causing damage or rot and the longer I wait to get under an NHS dentist (seems like this is never going to happen), the more likely I will need an extraction.

I already struggle with communicating, am self-concious that I mess up my speech and draw attention to myself. And have jaw and bite problems, without now having to worry about losing some teeth too.

I will try to email NHS 111 tomorrow if I have more energy, and see if I can get pointed I the right direction to get treatment and X-ray.

I may just have to pay the absurd x-ray cost and check-up fee though, but I know this is likely to lead to even more costs. It seems wrong to have to fork out for this when I know my ESA is supposed to get me NHS treatment. If I didn’t have my PIP awarded just a few months ago this would be so much more stressful.

Razr

NHS dentists are becoming "extinct" everywhere, blame your celebs if you want to blame anyone

I literally have no teeth, no problem i have a blender, i still get the nutrients and vits from real food, NOT Macy D or Fast food

And who cares about a smile, most smiles are fake anyhow

However there are still emergency dentists if you are in pain

Razr

https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/dentists/how-can-i-access-an-nhs-dentist-in-an-emergency-or-out-of-hours/

Kimi87

This is a UK wide problem.

NHS Dentistry is a scarce resource in most places now, unfortunately.

I hope you get some relief soon. If that means paying yourself, it's better to be able to do that than be in pain without the financial resources to do anything about it.

JessieJ

There are now dental trucks/mobile clinics in some areas, look up the charity Dentaid to see if you have them, there are others as well. They are picking up on those that aren't & can't register with an NHS dentist, the vulnerable, homeless etc., for check ups & urgent care. I'm lucky, I'm with a great NHS dentist, but both my sister & nephew aren't & after spotting a truck in a church car park, we stopped & asked & they both received treatment on the Dentaid truck after booking appointments. Hope there is the same in your area, good luck!

Hopeless

I had toothache earlier this year and managed to find a dentist who would put me on their NHS waitlist (about 1 year) but let me pay £60 to get this one tooth sorted. That included a checkup, x-ray and high fluoride prescription toothpaste which has kept me comfortable. It seemed a better option than joining a private dentist with a monthly plan

Razr

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/947406#Comment_947406

The government has openly admitted they are relying on charities for loads of things nowadays

W348

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/947023#Comment_947023

Appreciate the various links and suggestions from everyone who took the time to post. Thank you.

Kimmy87, this was the direction I took. I did pay to be seen by my usual - but now private - dentist.

I was hoping for a simpler outcome. Dentist can not help me. The good news is my main back tooth does not need refilling, though I had hoped this was the cause of my pain - simply because that would be much simpler. I had x-rays as well. The tooth and old filing are perfectly fine. Yet I am still in mild pain and feel frequently nauseous.

It seems the pain and discomfort I am experiencing is I’ll likely caused by a buried wisdom tooth which is sitting right on top of my main back tooth causing pressure.

Dentist said he can’t do anything and just advised taking painkillers, did say I could goto hospital though but dentist can not help.

I did mention I was worried that if the wisdom tooth does need extracting that I thought this meant I would also lose my main back tooth. I assumed they would have to pull that first so they can reach the wisdom tooth. Dentist seemed to suggest hospital could get it out without also pulling main tooth. That did surprise me.

I wasn’t referred to hospital though, seemed like it’s just upto me if I want to go to A&E? I’m not in servere pain, but I am concerned that this pressure is potentially pushing out my good tooth, or causing damage to it. I feel like I am maybe making a fuss if I go to hospital when I am able to currently tolerate this pain.

dream

not seen a dentist since 2020 they went privet they did

Razr

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/948619#Comment_948619

Yes "Macio" surgery in a hospital can do things a dentist can not, not sure if that's the correct spelling, your dentist can refer you as mine did 20 yrs ago i believe

JessieJ

As he was your dentist before, @W348, surprised he didn't offer to do a referral for you. Maybe call him to see if he will, get the ball rolling, as it will take time to come through anyway. Hopefully it won't get any worse whilst you're waitng, but if it should, then you can go to A&E.